The evening world., 1887-12-24

VeSey street affords the best illustration OF
this branch of the Christmas trade at Wash
ington Market; for, from Church street
down to the river, the sidewalks are COM
pletely lined with the stands of street VEN
ders.
Those stationed nearer Broadway offer for
sale small fancy articles, suitable for cheap
presents; dolls, with faxen hair and flexible
joints, for 25 cents: penknives and toys of
various sorts, with the usual display of fruit
and candy.
Further down one encounters a varied as
sortment of household articles, hardware
line of stands where Christmas tree orna-
ments are sold. These make a brilliant dis
play with ~festoons of varicolored glass balls,
glittering refectors, .colored wax tapers, and
gold and silver tinsel. Every article that is
mas tree can be procured here, and it is al
most needless to say that the stands have
been we'll patronized all day long.
Down opposite the market the retail deal
ers of Christmas trees and Christmas green's
have fairly taken possession of the street,
and have monopoliZed it to such an extent
that there is only just about room on one
side of the roadway for two wagons to pass
each other. A big framework of wood, ex-
tending from Washington street nearly down
to West is divided off into sectionsfor the diff
ferent vendors, and upon it is hung a Devil
dering variety of decorative emblems in
Christmas greens, ground pine, holly, laurel
and mistletoe, and sometimes several of these
are confined in the same figure. There are
wreaths, stars, triangles, crosses and other
designs, in all sizes to suit the purse of the
buyer, and may be had from 10 cents
apiece up.
Many of them are rendered additionally
attractive by weaving into the wreaths bright
red holly berries, or yellow, red and purple
immortelles, moses and dyed grasses of
various colors. These, of course, are among
the higher priced goods. At nearly all of
these stands Christmas trees are also sold, the
cheapest ranging from Is to 25 cents apiece.
The thousands of people who daily visit
the market attract the street vendors to the
neighborhood, and for the last two weeks
the peddlers have been doing athriving bust
ness, and for Us much longer they are likely
to hold the fort without a diminution of
profits.
Inside the big brick building, which
a scene of activity and animation which
surpasses even that upon the street. All of
the stall-keepers have prepared themselves
for the holiday season and their choicest
goods have been arranged SO as to produce
the most attractive display. Many of them
have decorated their stands with wreaths and
festoons of evergreens and holly to make the
quarters of beef and the provisions the more
attractive to customers,
Naturally the poultry and game stalls COM
mand the most attention at this season, and
these certainly furnish an extra fine display.
1t is said that the quality of the poultry is
finer than usual this year, while it does not
fall behind in quantity. In fact; the supply
is a good deal in excess of the demand, and
the current prices for the past week have
shown but little change.
There is more demand for turkeys than
anything else, and prices range from IA to 10
cents u pound. Chickens come next at II to
16 cents, with Philadelphia roasters, which
are regarded as a great delicacy, at 20 cents.
Germans are the largest buyers of geese,
which range in price from IA to 1S cents,
while a moderate trade in ducks is done at a
to is cents. Some of the plumpest and
choicest fowls are decorated with bright
colored paper r~osettes.
The supply of game" said the largest
dealer in the market to-day, is becoming
smaller every year, SO that now only the
wealthiest people and the clubs, which must
have it at any cost, can afford to buy it.
These are about the only customers we have
now. This is because so much game is now
shipped to Europe and because 1t is actually
You will never see game cheap again in
this country. Why, IT was only o few years
ago that prairie fowl were considered dear at
80 cents q brace, and now you can't get them
for less than 81. so. 1t takes q man with n
pretty long purse to enjoy canyasback at 81
a pair, II he has to pay for them himself, or
redheads at 49,"
The kinds of game principally dealt in now
are quail, which cost $s a dozen, and squads
at So. 90. These remain comparatively cheap.
Partridges are $l.10 a brace, mallards $l.25,
guinea fowl rs cents, and capons 25 cents a
pound.
Another branch of trade which is booming
at this season is that in fruits and nuts. OF
both of these there is plen tiful supply in
the market, and some of the stalls display 30
rich O variety of dainties that the mouth Of
the passer-by fairly waters as he gazes upon
them.
There is now a supply Of fine Florida and
Jamaica oranges In the market, which may
dozen, while fancy oranges, like Messinas,